Two half days

 Only half a day on Friday and a wet one at that. Scott from 1 Degree West came over to talk about wiring and steering, talked me out of fitting hydraulics and agreed on various details for the battery circuits. It was too wet to do much outside so I finished off the plumbing under the galley: pressure pumped water and a sink drain.

That meant drilling a large hole in the hull for the skin fitting, and the boat was floating. Although I triple checked dimensions it was a very odd feeling to be drilling a hole in a hull from the inside. However it all ended happily, and it gave me a chance to see just how strongly built this boat is - check out the thickness of the core I drilled out. This is at least twice as thick as the Trophy hull in the same place.

 

 As I was feeling totally frustrated by the weather, and knowing Saturday would offer a nice sunny window, I was up early to fit the mast. At last!! The culmination of much planning, preparation and general worrying. All went fine although it took a very long time , because however many tools I took up on the roof with me, the one I actually needed was always back in the cockpit. The only blip was that I couldn't fit the VHF antennae, because I couldn't separate the old one from the old base to fit to the new base so I'll either have to get a new antennae or clean up the old base. Guess which will cheaper. Yes, I'll be doing that. The budget has stretched far enough already. Here is the result of four hours honest labour.

 

 

That might look finished but wires to all that electronickery has to go somewhere and this is what the inside looks like. I'm looking forward to the next rainy weekend because I'll be spending it routing all those cables. There's half a ton of the stuff in the sink.

 

 

 

And more...

Next instalment (not sure if anyone apart from Garry is following this, but it keeps me amused).
The GRP in the roof went off nicely overnight so it is all ready for the mast. However it was blowing a bit and I didn't trust the rain to hold off, so I left the fitting to the next time. I couldn't resist a dry run to see what it looks like, I think it will look really good when fitted and all the electrickery hanging off it.

While the weather was reasonable I finally fitted the ring bolt to hold the anchor in position, so it is all functional now. There is a quick-release shackle to hold the stock to the ring, as the bollard was too far away to stop the stock thumping about at sea if the chain was fastened to it.

 And one for Garry, the anchor fits just fine!

Having wired the wipers last visit, I tested them and something was wrong. There appears to be a problem inside the second wiper motor housing as it is graunching and blowing fuses. That will have to come off for an inspection, if it is not fixable it will be going back to Vetus. Other progress was fitting the galley water pump, water filler pipe, starting to wire in the switch panel on the galley.

I was very pleased with this, it is a rectangle of 3mm Acetal, drilled with 20mm holes for circular rocker switches, and labels made from water-slide transfer. Apparently they set hard, time will tell. On the way home I picked up two steps made by Garry for the cockpit. Brilliant, as usual, I can't wait to fit them.

More work

I had the luxury of another day on the boat today. The first half hour was discussing with Scott of One Degree West the possibility of fitting hydraulic steering. He also advised replacing the battery cables, and he has replaced the gear cable which was bent which explains the stiffness. Then on to the boat, but oh dear....(that wasn't actually what I said)

The frigging ply that was bonded to the roof ready for glassing in had fallen off!! Oh Garry, god of all fibreglass, where were you in my hour of need? So it was off to Portsmouth to get some more sticky stuff, clean them up and bond the blighters back again. That lost me the morning and while the paste was going off I re-wired the wipers. Nothing to show there. I then glassed in the roof beams, they look dog rough I admit but they are smoother than they look in the photo. It won't matter as they will be behind the headlining. The channel is to take all the wiring from the navigation mast, which was the whole purpose of beefing up the roof.

While the resin was going off I did a couple of outside jobs as for once it wasn't raining:

Cockpit rod racks

 and the start of the plumbing - the water filler in the side deck.

More tomorrow I hope.

Outside work at last

I have been working on some things that are not very interesting to report, like a new bilge pump, ripping out the roof timber that was wet, and installing the 240V system. At last today I could do something outside, so while the roof fibre-glassing was going off I put the chain pipe arrangement on the anchor rope deck hatch. A standard hatch has no hole to run the rope through, and just cutting a hole would have been a bit flimsy so I bought a hawse hole casting, cut two ends off and fitted them back together along the opening line of the hatch. This is the way Cheetah cats do it but they have a custom bit of metalwork.

 Another item turned up today, the helm and crew seats. These are KAB seats that have been custom finished in the vinyl I will use on the other upholstery. They were made by Thomas Scott, who also supply Seaward. They will look stunning when in place but here is a preview:

And the crew or "Operator" seat which has a turntable below so it can face forward, or back to the table

Back in Southsea Marina

Time for an update as I have been working away on Rebel Runner. I'll start with the good news. The mast is coming along nicely, just waiting for a top coat and then I'll show pictures. I have had a re-think about seating, and I have ordered a KAB helm seat and operators seat, to be covered in the same blue vinyl as the rest of the seating. I will have to cut down one of Garry's seat boxes but it will look good. After a couple of very wet Sundays working inside the boat, we have a new door lock:

 The cooker has a teak fiddle to stop it going for a solo trip:

and the re-wiring is starting to show results. The Voltmeter, new fuel gauge, leg trim, GPSMap4008 and Garmin VHF are all hooked up. There is a lot of wiring going on behind that bulkhead! The Azimuth compass is installed but not wired in yet. The observant will note there are several switch panels that have gone - I bought a small sheet of 3mm white Acetal and stuck it over the holes and mounted the VHF on that. I will make up an information panel to go under it.

And now for the bad news. I was sitting munching a sandwich and noticed some brown water dripping out of the wheelhouse light fitting. After a bit of investigation, it appears that the steaming light mast mounting was leaking into the wood that was glassed in on the wheelhouse roof, that the headlining screws into. This has been happening for a while because it is spongy all along. I'll have to cut it out and bond on some new. The mast was going anyway. As this new wood will be behind the headlining, I am thinking of bonding on some ply strips, I'm wondering whether it in necessary to glass over it or bond on and paint over with two pack epoxy. On the plus side this means I can build in a cable route as the previous ones seem to have been glassed in. Here is the sad sight.

Nearly ready for launch

Final day on the Island trying to get Rebel Runner ready for launch on Thursday, and back "home" on Sunday. No 1 priority was getting some form of electrics together so the boat is driveable. The new dash was fitted finally, chartplotter and engine panel in, connected up and working, or at least lights came on. Can't tell until she is in the water...Also fitted a blanking panel made of white Acetal to hide all the holes where the old switches were on the bulkhead, and mounted the radio on that. Connected up and working. No photo because I pointed the camera towards my flood light doh.

The galley rail and sink are in, looking good. There will be a teak fiddle to stop the burner taking flight, and a teak trim on top of the rear panel.

The new mast arrived, this is a section of yacht mast welded up in aluminium and will hold the radar scanner, VHF antennae and two GPS antenna. I brought it home to key up, drill all the holes and paint. Side graphics are on, but I ran out of time (again) before cutting the portholes so I left that for Nigel's man.

Next time I see her she will be in the water, then it is back home to Southsea where I can work away when I need to. There is still one heck of a lot to do before I can go fishing

A day in Cowes

Finally, another day on the Island now the doctors and wife have allowed me out. I had the help of my daughter, I am not sure if she was paid by my wife to keep an eye on me but she did some great work anyway. I had plans (and all the gear in the car) to do far more than we actually managed to do in 6 hours, it is so frustrating to have to leave to catch a ferry back. I had cut and painted some ply panels to put behind the main bulkhead to mount all the electrics and black box units on, and they fitted fine. I did some admiring of the bow roller

and the rails round the foredeck

before polishing up the transom and cabin sides ready for the name and graphics to be applied. What a job that was! Here is the transom:

 

The rest of the afternoon was spent struggling to get the side stripes on, and we ran out of time (and light) so no photos yet. My daughter was a great help but it did cost me a lot in snacks to keep her motivated 

 

Back again next weekend, hopefully to do the rest of what I should have done today

In Cowes

Nigel the boat-builder sent me these photos today, RR is back from the farmyard and now sits in her shed. Bow rail and cockpit rails are on. Step, grab-rails and bow roller still to be fitted. The extra rail in the cockpit is the swinging seat back so when that is dry fitted I can order the seat cushions. Lots more to do before she can travel again but at least she is back under cover and I'm hoping the doc will let me off my lead so I can go over and play.

 

Back to the Island

After a long delay I went over to the Island today (despite the storm) to visit Rebel Runner at the fabrication shop, and do a bit of work on her. Things are coming along slowly but very surely, I am pleased with everything so far except how long its taking. First up here are the front rails being made by Dougal.

The cockpit rails are already finished and waiting to go on. There are also new roof rails and a grab rail round the galley, and a pair of rails on the transom because by law there must be a means of getting back on board if you fall in, apparently.

The two seat boxes which will eventually have a raised area between and a table (for rig making) between 

The bowsprit anchor roller is on but the deck needs a strengthening pad under. It will look great once the rails are on.

The second wiper motor is fitted but in the meantime one of the important dome nuts has gone walkies. Very annoying.

Finally, the old dash is out and the new one in, with units dry fitted. I'm very pleased with this Garry! I bet you are too

 

Metalwork should be complete and bolted up by Thursday, and the boat goes back to Cowes where I can work under cover again. More soon I hope 

New Dash

The good news is that the work in Cowes is nearly done. The stainless welding should be complete by the end of the week and then after Garry's hatch is fitted to the cockpit floor it will be ready to come home for all the fiddly bits to be done. Meanwhile I have been making things, such that I can. I made a start on the table, and also made a nice teak mounting plate for the compass. I finally dared slice into Garry's dashboard, the only bit missing is the Yanmar engine control panel which I will swap in when the dash is installed. Looking good Garry!

At Last

At last, a report of things coming together. I had boxed up the mouldings Garry made and after work today I carried them onto the Red Jet to Cowes. Yes I had a lot of funny looks but who cares, £14.60 return instead of £60 at least by car. Nigel met me, right at the gangplank bless him, and helped me carry them to his van. We went to the yard to inspect progress and see what fitted.

He has done a lot more ripping out and suddenly lots more space has appeared. The galley is in, and so is the side moulding. Cables are re-routed and ready to be connected up.

We tried the new seat mouldings for size:

 and the cockpit seat locker

A last look back into the wheelhouse then away back on the Red Jet and home.

New Bowsprit

I'm just back from a week's holiday and the builder assures me he's making progress. The biggest challenge has been finding someone to do the stainless work but I think we are nearly there. In the meantime Garry has been busy again, I picked up another consignment of mouldings today made to his usual exceptionally high standard. First up is the anchor bowsprit, the design based on the one from my Trophy but scaled up to house a 10Kg Delta anchor. It will be trimmed to fit the curve of the deck. It is a hell of a slab, I said to Garry make it strong and I think it would hold the Queen Mary. Shown here marked up for trimming.

   Garry also made a small box for the cockpit, this will have a hatch on top and be used as a seat
 

And finally, here are the two seat boxes for the wheelhouse. These will have lids, seat pads, backs and a table between them.

  Hopefully the next update will be of things actually fitted!

 

 

 

New wheelhouse mouldings

Picked up the galley moulding and side panel from Garry this morning. Absolutely stunning workmanship, I'm delighted with them. Off to Cowes tomorrow to deliver them to the yard. The flat top will have a sink let into it. The ledge is for a gas stove. It is low enough to put a flap over as a work surface.The hole below right is for a fridge and left is a cupboard. I'm going to get a stainless grab rail made to run round the top. The panel has a ledge which Garry has made with a lip so stuff stays put, and a thickened block where the engine control will be mounted.

Two steps back before one forward

Bit of an update - the leg was serviced and new bellows, UJ and Gimbal bearing fitted. So quiet now! Sounded like a bag of spanners before and I thought that was because there was no soundproofing. I took Rebel Runner back to Cowes where she was lifted out and put in a shed to be gutted. There has been delays due to Cowes week and Fastnet race where you can't get the attention of boat fitters but at last a start has been made. All the cockpit side lining was removed and all the furniture in the wheelhouse is out. It has to get worse before it gets better. I am collecting a new side panel to house engine controls and a galley unit from Garry tomorrow, I have seen the photos and they look stunning. I'll be taking them over to Cowes with galley fittings, hatches etc. for the start of the build phase.
Before:

Now:

Where the galley will go

Now

Problem is the builder is now on holiday for a week then I am away for a week so I hope to see it starting to come together in two weeks time.